Monday, March 31, 2014

Agency questions come my way more often than any other type of advice request. I know I've said it before, but you don't have to have a perfect (or what you think is perfect) book before you start meeting with agents. Every agent is different, but the majority just want a few good, simple shots when you're starting out. Don't waste your time and money on pictures when agents will set up test shoots if they want to work with you. Your agent will know what types of shots to add to your portfolio based on how they want to sell you. And let's face it, a lot of models struggle because they think they're one thing (fashion) when they're another (commercial).

MASONI live in LA and have been trying to break into the modeling industry but with very little success. I'm wondering if I'm in the right market for my look. I've been to agencies both small and large, and am finding little interest. People tell me I should be modeling all the time, but I'm thinking I have to leave LA to do it...thoughts?

I hardly ever have to say this, but you're actually too tall for fashion, so you'll have to focus on commercial print and TV. I would not suggest that you leave LA, as it has a huge commercial market. Were you only approaching modeling agents? Stay put and try to find a commercial agent. Work on your acting skills, even if just in commercial acting classes.

GEORGES HILAIREIf you know how I could better push myself in the industry, please let me know. I accept any advice and criticism. A few agencies wanted me to work for Zara, J. Crew, etcetera and had me shooting with big models in the industry. Sometimes, when jealousy and envy are involved, it turns out that it becomes a serious competition instead of collaboration for certain people.

Competition is what it's all about! The better model gets the job. Unfortunately, you're at a shoot to work, not make friends, and while you can't control the actions of other models, you can control your behavior. If you act professionally, that's what the people who can hire you again will remember. Your collaboration is with your agent, not with other models. You live in NYC and say you work with local agents. I think you can use more fashion in your portfolio, so see if any of the agents you work with can set you up with some test shoots to round out your book.

ANTONIO_ANTONII had a question about getting into the modeling world and the best way to go about contacting agencies. I am currently working on my head shots and photos to get my portfolio finished. Once I have my portfolio together, what would you suggest my next best move be?

Your next best move is to find an agent! You live in New York, and there are lots of them. Big and small. Don't spend too much money on pictures, just get a few. Let the agent that wants to represent you work on a portfolio with you. They will know just what they need in order to sell you, and can point you in the right direction in terms of photographers and looks. Get on the phone and start calling to set up appointments with agents!

ADRIAN SKYI'm in the process of submitting to a few agencies, including Ford. What is the best way for me to submit my portfolio and what type of shots are needed? If you could look at my profile and let me know what you think, I would love to hear your feedback and advice on what my next step should be.

Your portfolio is good enough to find an agent. Let the agent that wants to rep you help work on additional pictures. They know if you're the type of model that can book from looking at one or two pictures. Then they will create your book around a look that will sell. Check the agency websites (or call the ones you want to submit to) to find out how they accept and prefer submissions. Some will do open calls, some will set meetings, and some will allow you to submit online. Each agency is different.

DONDI SISONHow do I make it in the fashion world when I'm only 5'10"? All the other male models are 6' and above. I know it's rare for models my height to get to walk runways, especially big ones like NY Fashion Week. How do I approach agencies knowing that most will be highly critical of my height.

The male models below 6' only get agents to overlook a few inches by having a look that completely knocks them out. My advice to you would be to go commercial. There are a lot more agencies to work with and a lot more opportunities as far as booking job. You can always start there and continue looking for a modeling agent. If you find one who wants to work with you, you can always have two agents - one for commercials and one for print.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Lane Bryant's first plus-size designer collaboration is here, and it's gorgeous! Isabel Toledo teamed up with the mega-retailer to bring some romance and whimsy into the stores this spring. According to Linda Heasley, Lane Bryant's CEO, "there's a myth that this client only wants basics. She has been told she can't wear horizontal stripes of she can't wear belts. That's not true. We wanted to change the conversation."

Toledo describes her clothes for the retailer as being "full of wonderful, quiet details that women will find special and highly wearable. You can dress them up or down depending on your personal style. I want the guest of Lane Bryant to mix my capsule collection with the rest of her Lane Bryant wardrobe to create her individual looks. That is modern American style at its best!"

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Very rarely do I get BOWLED over by anything anymore... I'm not jaded, I'm well traveled :).

I had the opportunity to meet the owners of an amazing clothing store in the heart of New Orleans, Fraques Nola Outfitter. Owners Jacques Couvillon and Frank D'Amico wanted to create a store that allows for its patrons to create personalized looks through edgy, worldly, and well tailored clothing.

Creating looks, that in turn, create confidence and a stronger sense of self. "We want to help people find themselves and their unique look through fashion, our slogan- "create you", speaks to the creative process that is fostered through finding the individuals signature style and aesthetic." Their style speaks to a "renaissance man" of sorts, a well rounded, well traveled, jack of all trades if you will. There are books about art and culture, periodicals from around the country, and the whole store "reads" of good taste and creative energy. They have a wide variety of designers and enough pieces to create very stylized "complete looks". From bags, to bow ties, to exceptional shirts and blazers, this place reeks of class and high end masculine style. Jacques and Frank helped create custom looks for me, by pairing appropriate and good looking options together that represented my personal style. I have truly never felt so confident and "fashionable" as I did when I left with my new ensembles from Fraques. While I may know a lot about creating flattering and current looks, it was refreshing to have two creative and stylish minds to help guide me in the right direction to produce fashionable, current, and "high end" looks. I highly recommend Fraques to be at the TOP of your "to do" list next time you come through New Orleans. Not only were their clothes amazing, they were two of the kindest and most intelligent business owner's I have met in a while. So, check um out next time you're in NOLA! Tell um John Dye sent ya! :)John Like Them on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/fraquesnolaoutfitter?ref=br_rsAND! Check out their website! http://www.fraques.com

Friday, March 14, 2014

Whether you are modeling for fashion or in the commercial market, you need to make sure your portfolio has the right types of pictures to represent you and your niche. If you know you have a commercial look or don't have the height for fashion, it's important to have a few commercial head shots in your book. If you do tend to book a lot of high fashion work, it also never hurts to have a few close up beauty shots in your portfolio as well. You want to make sure you have a realistic outlook on the types of jobs you can book and that those looks are reflected. If you don't have an agent, and are setting up meetings, being self-aware and realistic will only make you that much more appealing as a potential client.

LYRIC JONESI'm brand new to the business but am very interested in getting into runway. Do you have any advice on how to tackle that?

You're too short for runway, but you definitely have a good look. You could be a little too edgy for commercial print, but with the right brand, you could be a perfect fit. Definitely consider acting, if you aren't pursuing that already. It could open a lot of doors for you, and you're definitely in the right place for it. Start with a commercial acting class and go from there.

HOLLY GLASSERI'm a 5'2' petite model in NYC trying to break into fashion. I have seen it can be done in a few cases. What would your recommendations be for a petite model. I'm currently freelancing with MSA Models.

I know there are exceptions to the rule, but maybe at 5'6", definitely not at 5'2". You have a really good book already - lots of great photos - and a commercial look. Your profile says you act and sing, so maybe you need a new agent? There are lots in NYC, and many of them would love to work with someone who is multi-talented. Set up some meetings and see what happens!

KELLY22If you have some time to go over my portfolio and let me know what you think, I would really appreciate it.

You have a great commercial look - I really like it, but you need to add some more pictures with different outfits. Try reaching out to some photographers on MWN to see if they would be interested in shooting a few commercial head shots with you, or set up an appointment with a local headshot photographer. You live in NYC, so when you have a few new shots, set up meetings with some commercial agents and go from there.

MONIQSECRETSI'm an aspiring model currently residing in Atlanta, GA. It has always ben my dream to be a fashion model. I was hoping you could give me some advice on my portfolio. These are the best pictures I have so far. Please let me know if I need to try a different approach.

You have the height for fashion, and I like your look. Have you seen agents in Atlanta? A lot of film and TV work is happening down there that you could get involved in. You could use more pictures in your book, but get an agent before you spend any money on photos. They can give you direction on what types of shots will best help them find work for you, whether it be print, commercial, or film/TV, and even recommend photographers in the area.

Monday, March 10, 2014

It's time to get to know a little more about our Featured Members for the month of March! If you would like to be considered as a featured member for an upcoming month, please email featured@modelwirenetwork.com with a link to your MWN profile. Should you be interested in collaborating with any of this month's featured members, send them a MWN friend request!

This month's featured model, Agathe, currently lives and works in Paris. She has been featured in various publications, including HUF Magazine, Gazelles Magazine, Dark Beauty Magazine, and more. She has also modeled for Burberry's 2014 collections. You can see more of Agathe's work on her website.

TOTO was born into a family of photographers and image makers. After attending Design and Film School, he visited New York and decided to relocated to the city and pursue photography, where he continues to live today. He works worldwide and some of the brands he's collaborated with include Nike, MTV, Coca Cola, Conde Nast, BHLDN, Ann Taylor, Rolling Stone Latin America, and many more. You can see more of TOTO's work on his website.

Susan Zeytuntsyan was born and raised in Los Angeles - the epicenter of the entertainment world. She always had a flare for the arts and discovered her love of painting faces at the mere age of twelve. Susan's love for the arts and interest in the dynamic worlds of both fashion and film ultimately led her to pursue her passion in makeup artistry, allowing her to conceptualize, create, and breathe life into her art using a three-dimensional canvas. Self-taught in beauty makeup and formally trained in special effects, Susan has ventured into all avenues of makeup artistry (from glamour to gore) and is available for special events, photoshoots, runway, print, commercial, film and television productions.

Why makeup artistry?

As a child, I would always rummage through my mom's makeup drawers and attempt to give myself a "makeover" while she was away. I've always been an artistic individual and knew I wanted to create art one way or another. When I was 12, I used to lug around my mom's makeup bag everywhere with me, giving my family members makeovers. I loved making everyone feel beautiful, and enjoyed the process of "drawing" on a live canvas. Ve Neill's iconic character work in films such as Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands were also big influences on me. I became piqued by the idea of using makeup to wholly transform an individual. I knew right around hen that makeup artistry was the path I wanted to pursue.

Who is your favorite makeup artist of all time?

That is a tough one. I don't have one favorite, but have tons who continuously inspire me. In the special effects arena, I am a big fan of the works of Ve Neill, Joel Harlow, Rick Baker, and Don Lanning, to name a few. In the fashion/editorial world, I think Roshar, Alex Box, Romero Jennings, and Pat McGrath are all insanely talented and versatile artists whose work never ceases to amaze me.

What inspires you?

I am always being inspired by other artists' work. Fashion, nature, colors, weather, seasons - all inspire me and help set the tone in the creative process. When I'm working on a shoot, the team inspires me - the wardrobe, color palette, mood, hair, etc. It is a collaborative effort and the creative juices really just start flowing once the pieces of the puzzle begin to come together.

What do you look for when selecting a model to work with?

I love models with obscure and striking features. Definitely strong cheekbones and bold, beautiful brows. I am a sucker for good eyebrows.

What product can you not live without?

I personally cannot live without lip balm and my beauty blender! In my kit, the Makeup Forever Flash Palette - you can create just about any makeup with that one product.

What is your personal style?

My style is constantly evolving, and can't say I have one definitive style. It really depends on my mood and the occasion. I generally like to be comfortable, but definitely trendy/stylish. I love simple outfits like leggings and a t-shirt, paired with some combat boots and statement jewelry to give it an edge.

What genre does your work focus on?

Most of my work is on the fashion/editorial side. But I am looking to venture more into beauty and take crack at some more creative looks. I am excited to continue to develop my book and see what I can come up with in the future!

What is your favorite band or song of all time?

Favorite band of all time is Depeche Mode! I saw them in concert last year, and it was surreal.

Kristen Linares is a hair & makeup artist to St. Louis' aspiring talent, downtown dwellers, and business moguls. She is a 3rd generation stylist from Tampa Bay who strives to perfect images, inform the misunderstood, and teach all a thing or two about their beauty regimen. Her career began and took off on the east coast after training with global artists Patrick McIvor and Jayson Morgan. Her mentors exposed her to the world of high fashion, helping develop her taste for classic looks to avant grade. New York Fashion week has been one of Kristen's greatest experiences as an artist.

In 2010, Kristen moved to St. Louis and began working as Creative Director in a beautiful salon. Her position allowed her to work behind the chair while developing the salon's image through photo shoots and fashion shows. In June 2012, she opened Thirteenth and Washington, Salon and Creative Space. It accommodates St. Louis' top photographers, hair/makeup artists, bloggers and wardrobe stylists. Kristen strives to improve her surroundings, teach others, learn from others, and make an impact on how the world views beauty and wellness.

Tiffany is from a city where fashion is first (Philadelphia), so she developed an eye for different designs, fabrics, textures, coloring, along with body imaging. She was fortunate enough to travel to different parts of the world to learn and enhance what she already knew in the fashion world. Even though she feels like she has been doing this a long time, she's still learning the industry. Tiffany is very open-minded and optimistic about new ideas. She is open to collaborating with other MWN members!

Thursday, March 6, 2014

No matter who you are, where you are, or what career you're pursuing, the biggest challenges you'll often face are of your own making. When you're starting out as a model, you may think you need to have the perfect pictures, be repped by a top tier agency, or immediately move to a large market like NY or LA. You start planning so far into the future, that you can't see the short term steps you need to take to get you there. To start out, make sure you are realistic about your type (not everyone can be a fashion model) and go from there. Get a few diverse shots in your book (commercial types ABSOLUTELY need a good headshot), and start out locally. Meet with agents, get feedback, and don't be afraid to dive in. Sitting back and dreaming about being the next Tyra or Gisele isn't going to get you where you want to be. You have to do what you can to make it happen.

SHANICE ASHLEYWhat should I do if I do not have enough money to get photoshoots to build my portfolio when walking through agency doors. I always hold myself back when I really want to push myself forward.

First off, you have enough pictures to start, what you need is to find an agent before you spend any money on additional photos. If you've had meetings but haven't had luck yet, there could be something wrong in the way you're presenting yourself. You have a different look and just need to find an agent who feels they can make money with you. If you haven't been submitting because you're worried that you don't have enough photos, stop thinking that way. You have polaroids and a variety of shoots in your book. Start submitting and taking meetings! If an agent wants to work with you, they will suggest photographers for you to test with and let you know what additional images they need to move forward.

You are a pretty woman, but you live in a small market without a lot of work in this industry. Are you looking to move? That's a big life change with two children. You're a TV/Commercial type, one of the most competitive areas of the business. You seem to have a good job, so if you're happy with what your doing and not looking to relocate, I would say "don't quit your day job." You could try to find a commercial agent in Detroit, if it's not too far from you, and see if you could pick up some local commercial work on the side.

OHWAWAI've been modeling for a year now and my main goal, as for any other model, is to land with a big agency. I know I have what it takes. What do you advise me to do?

You're too short for fashion but have a good look. You live in a small market, so I would suggest finding a local agent to build up your resume before you attempt to break into a large market. If it's not too inconvenient for you, try setting up meetings with agents in Washington, DC or Baltimore. Don't spend any more money on pictures until you get an agent.

CHA'QUOYAWould you mind taking a look at my portfolio? I would greatly appreciate it.

Your pictures all look pretty much the same. I would suggest checking out agents in Dallas and trying to set up some meetings. They can help advise you on the best types of shots to add to your portfolio, if they're interested in working with you. You definitely need a big more variety. You can also reach out to other MWN members in your area, especially photographers, to see if anyone would be interested in collaborating on a shoot so you can get a few different types of shots in your book.

MEGAN SAMMUTI'm a 24 year old aspiring model who has done numerous photoshoots with freelance photographers. Do you have any feedback/advice on my pictures?

You have too many pictures in your portfolio, so I'd start by editing some out. You should make some appointments with commercial TV & print agents since you live in NYC. See what they say. Continue studying acting for sure, because that is going to be your main area you're competing in.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Last night was Hollywood's premiere red carpet event aka The Academy Awards. All of our favorite A-listers were out in full-glam effect. Navy and white, along with other muted colors, seemed to be the color choices of the evening for many of the ladies in attendance. We also noticed a lot of metallics - especially after post-show wardrobe changes for the Oscar parties.

Here are our top 5 favorite looks from last night's red carpet, in no particular order.

Angelina Jolie in Elie Saab Haute Couture

Cate Blanchett in Armani Privé

Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace

Lupita Nyong'o in Prada

Maria Menounos in Johanna Johnson

Anddddd, we had to add a few honorable mentions, that REALLY wanted to creep in to the top five.

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Tip of the Week

Posting Projects

If you are looking for a specific type of user (e.g. you need a model for test photos), it's always a great idea to post a project instead of trying to message users individually. You can let other members know exactly who/what you're looking for, the dates you're working, and whether or not there is pay involved. Users who are available and interested can submit to your project, and you can review those submissions from your MWN account!